NICOSIA, Cyprus — The manslaughter trial into the crash of a Cypriot airliner nearly four years ago that killed 121 people was adjourned Thursday until next month and one of the defendants was mobbed by angry relatives of victims.
Shouting “murderer,” more than a dozen people swarmed round the sport utility vehicle into which police had put Demetris Pantazis, the former managing director of Helios Airways, as he exited the Nicosia courtroom.
The Helios Airways Boeing 737-300 aircraft crashed north of Athens on Aug. 14, 2005, killing everyone on board. It had been on a flight from Cyprus’ main airport of Larnaca to Athens.
Greek investigators have said human error was to blame for the crash. They established that cabin pressure failure knocked out the pilots of the Boeing 737-300 soon after takeoff from Larnaca airport.
The aircraft reached Athens on autopilot, but crashed after running out of fuel.
Pantazis is one of five defendants formerly employed by the now defunct airline who face charges of manslaughter and causing death by recklessness. The Greek investigation faulted Helios for allegedly failing to fully adhere to air safety regulations.
Manslaughter carries a maximum life sentence while the lesser charge carries a maximum four-year sentence.
The other defendants are the Helios former executive Andreas Drakos, chief pilot Ianko Stoimenov, operations director George Kikides, and the airline, represented by former employee Demetris Araouzos.
“Is this justice?” said Anna Onisiforou, clutching a photo of her daughter and her daughter’s husband. “Let them come out to speak, at least to apologize.”
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